Toilet paper holder and dispenser



Feb. 25, 1936. F. J. HALL TOILET PAPER HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed March 15, 1955 \Q OQOQOQUQQQOA y ENToR,

fldzz co ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in toilet paper holders and dispensers.

In order to permit the convenient use of either a Wet or a dry toilet paper, I have provided by the present invention, an improved lavatory fixture which embodies novel means for selectively delivering in any desired quantities, sheets of toilet paper either in a dry or a moistened condition.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved toilet paper dispenser for lavatories, in which the paper sheets may be selectively delivered either in a dry untreated condition or in a moistened state with a liquid deodorant or antiseptic applied thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved toilet paper dispenser for lavatories, embodying manually operated mechanism for dispensing quantities of toilet paper, and also manually operated means for subjecting any desired quantity of the paper to a liquid bath prior to its delivery by the dispensing mechanism.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specifically pointed out in the description of my invention which is to follow.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of combination toilet paper holder and dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, showing one of the rollers over which the sheet of paper moves, in cross section.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I designates a casing having side walls 2, a rear wall 3, and a bottom 4 which is provided with an upturned front flange 5. The bottom of the casing, in conjunction with the front flange and the side and rear walls, forms a receptacle for holding quantities of liquid antiseptic, deodorant or water which is supplied by a suitable flask 6 supported in a frame 1 against the rear wall 3. The lower end of the flask is provided with a spring pressed valve 8 of a well known construction, which automatically releases liquid from the flask and maintains the same at a constant level in the receptacle. The top end of the flask is provided with a handle 9 for removing the said flask from the frame I when it is desired to replenish its supply of liquid.

The frame I is provided with lateral extensions H] which pivotally extend through openings ll located in the side walls 2 of the casing. Pivotally and slidably mounted on the extensions [0, is a spool and roller supporting frame I2 having substantially vertical slots [3 in its side members through which the said extensions extend. The side members of the frame l2 are provided at their upper front edges with obliquely disposed slots It which are adapted to receive the rectangular shaped ends l5 of a spool I6, the said spool being capable of rotatably supporting a roll ll of soft tissue paper. Rotatably supported between the side members of the frame I2, beneath the spool I6, is a roller l8 with which the tissue paper from the roll I! frictionally engages prior to its delivery from the casing. The provision of the slots 13 in the side members of the frame l2 permits the said frame to be swung upwardly to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, where it may be releasably held by the engagement of its top rear edge with the rear wall 3 of the casing I. When the frame 12 is moved to an elevated position, the lower part of the casing is made accessible for the purpose of guiding the tissue sheet into its proper position with respect to those parts of the apparatus used to moisten and dispense the same.

Rotatably mounted between the side walls 2 of the casing and positioned beneath and with its enlarged periphery in normal engagement with the roller I8, is a friction roller l9, preferably having a series of enlarged circumferentially disposed parts l9 thereon. The axis of the roller l9 extends through openings in the side walls 2, and one end of the former is provided with a handle 20 which serves to rotate the said roller. Rotatably carried by a bracket 2|, which is pivotally mounted on the axis of the roller I9, is a roller 22 preferably having a number of enlarged roughened circumferentially disposed members 22' thereon. The bracket 2! is provided with an outwardly projecting piece 23 which has a chain 24 secured thereto. The roller 22 is yieldably maintained above the level of the liquid located on the bottom of the casing by a spring 25, one end of which is secured to the said casing.

The sheet of tissue paper from the roll I! extends beneath and in engagement with the roller 22, and between and in engagement with the rollers l8 and I9. By turning the roller [9 through the manipulation of the handle 20, the sheet may be delivered from the casing in any desired quantities. If it is desired that the sheet be dispensed in a moistened condition the chain 24 is pulled downwardly while the handle 20 is being rotated. When the chain is pulled downwardly, the roller 22 is simultaneously carried with it, thereby causing the tissue sheet to become immersed in the liquid located on the bottom 4 of the casing. Upon releasing the chain, the spring25 again moves the roller 22 to a position above the liquid level where the tissue sheet is no longer maintained in contact with the liquid. It will be noted that the tissue sheet may be dispensed in either a dry or a moistened condition, and that any desired quantities of either may be obtained.

So as to prevent the moistened tissue sheet from adhering to the roller l9 as the latter is rotated, I have provided the front flange 5 with a series of corrugations 5' which are normally positioned in the valleys located between the enlarged circumferentially disposed parts IQ of the said roller. If by any chance the tissue sheet adheres to the roller I9, it will encounter the corrugations 5' of the flange 5 as the said roller is rotated, and thereupon become detached from the said roller. The roller I8 is provided with a plurality of spirally arranged or other suitably shaped raised members l8 which are designed to prevent but a very small surface on the roller i8 from touching the tissue sheet at any given time, thereby obviating the possibility of having the moistened tissue adhere to the said roller I8.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in regard to form, shape and details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and in this regard it is understood that the appended claims shall define the scope of my invention rather than the exact disclosures herein made.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A lavatory fixture comprising a casing having a liquid receptacle at the bottom thereof, means in the casing for supporting a roll of paper, roller means movably sup-ported above the liquid in the receptacle having its underneath side in contact with a sheet supplied from the roll, spring means yieldably holding the roller means above the liquid in the receptacle, manually movable means extending externally of the casing for depressing the roller means, whereby the sheet may be brought into contact with the liquid in the receptacle, and means normally maintaining the sheet in contact with the roller means and for delivering the said sheet from the casing.

2. A lavatory fixture comprising a casing having a liquid containing receptacle at the bottom thereof, means in the casing for supporting a roll of paper, roller means movably supported above the liquid in the receptacle having its underneath side engaging with a sheet of paper supplied from the roll, spring means yieldably holding the roller means above the liquid in the receptacle, manually operated means for depressing the roller means, whereby the sheet may be brought into engagement with the liquid in the receptacle, a pair of friction rollers for feeding the sheet from the casing and for normally maintaining the said sheet in engagement with the roller means, and manually operable means for rotating one of the pair of rollers.

3. A lavatory fixture comprising a casing having a liquid receptacle at its bottom, a. frame pivotally mounted in the casing, means carried by the frame for holding a roll of paper, a friction roller carried by the frame, a second friction roller rotatably sup-ported by the casing in a position directly beneath the first mentioned friction roller, the said friction rollers being adapted to frictionally engage with a sheet of paper supplied from the roll, means for rotating one of the friction rollers whereby the sheet may be delivered from the casing, movable means interposed between the friction rolls and the roll of paper for immersing the sheet in the liquid located in the receptacle.

4. In a lavatory fixture, dispensing means for paper sheets comprising a pair of friction rollers engageable with a sheet at opposite sides thereof, one of the rollers having a series of spaced circumferentially dispose-d enlarged parts thereon, and the other of the rollers having a series of raised members thereon, and projecting means extending between the circumferentially disposed enlarged parts of the first named roller, for separating the tissue sheet from the said roller in the event it adheres thereto.

FRANK J. HALL. 

